A Crossroad ✔

Final Section

[Quin]

"I'm so sorry... So sorry, Quin. Please don't hate me for being a bad guy..." He hugged me so tight as I felt his tears soaking up my hospital gown. The masculine man I have ever known is still the same, but the difference is that he is so frail today Niyakap ko rin siya nang mahigpit pabalik.

Hindi ko kinakayang panoorin siya nang ganito. He rarely cries, and when he does, it means he's really hurt.

"Mahal, hindi ako galit," I said honestly as I carressed his back. Napakagat-labi ako at marahang ipinikit ang mga mata. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung bakit 'yon ang naisip niyang paraan para panatilihin akong ligtas.

"I'm... I'm a criminal. I'm a sinner... I don't deserve you..." he said continuously like a broken boy. Nakinig lang ako sa mga paninisi niya sa sarili. And I am hurt about it. I never wanted to hear him blaming himself about something that they have done to make things better.

If there is something people must learn, it is to never blame. Nothing would come out good to it. Imbes na magturuan ng mga daliri, ang pag-iintindi at pagtutulungan pa rin ang dapat magpaubaya. I was used to being accusing almost all the time, and the things that happened to me in the past made me see this way.

Nang tumigil na siya sa pagsasalita ay saka ko mas hinagod-hagod ang kan'yang likuran. His hot tears are on my cloth but it is one of the best thing he offered me. His fragility. The idea that I am so important to him that is why he is acting this way. Crying.

"Tapos ka na? Pwedeng ako naman?" I asked him. Naramdaman ko naman ang kan'yang marahang pagtango kaya napahinga ako nang malalim. "Bakit mo sinisisi ang sarili mo, mahal? You're not the one who killed him. At saka... You did it for my sake. Kung hindi siya namatay... Isipin mo kung ilang tao pa ang maaaring mapahamak dahil sa kan'ya."

I know it is very heartless of me to say how such death is beneficial but it is the truth. Sa mundong bago, may mga pagkakataong kailangang tao mismo ang gumawa ng paraan para mapatahimik ang ibang pilit sumisira sa kaayusan.

Karma can take place in any way... Be it the effect of the people's actions.

I took a deep breath. "Kasalanan ko naman ito lahat. If I didn't come back and made a dangerous stunt, this won't happen." I hugged him tighter.

Tighter than I have ever done. Nagduda ako. Pinagdudahan ko ang pagmamahal niya sa akin kahit hindi ko naman alam kung ano'ng ginawa niya para panatilihin akong buhay hanggang ngayon.

I should be the one to take the blame. Not Raven because he did all of it for me.

"No. You never did anything wrong, Quin. You were just... worried. And I forgot how worried you were that day. I'm sorry I failed you." Pinaharap niya ako sa kan'ya at matamang tiningnan gamit ang mga matang halata pang nanggaling sa pagluha.

"Kalimutan mo na ang nangyari, Raven. Ayokong alalahanin mo pa ang mga iyon. Cut ties with that organization and that man. Forget everything, please?" I caressed his cheeks, wanting to make him feel how sincere I am with that I said.

"I already did. I'm just..." He breathed and I felt his frustration again. "I'm just worried. Worried to build a family with you. Paano kung g-guluhin nila tayo?" He bit his lips as his brows creased in worry.

Kitang-kita ko ang takot sa mga mata niya at kahit ako ay biglang kinabahan.

That's not impossible.

"You made arrangements, right? He won't trouble us if we stay silent. Malalampasan natin 'to... M-Magpapakalayo-layo tayo... We'll live peacefully somewhere else, mahal." Isang ngiti ang iginawad ko sa kan'ya.